Tubberclair marked their return to top flight football with a resounding victory over neighbours Tang last October. Given the club's rich crop of young talent, the success didn't come as a major surprise to anyone. Tubberclair's attention to their underage paid rich dividends on October 6 last when they captured the intermediate football championship title for only the second time in their history. Fielding one of the youngest teams ever to win an adult championship, Tubberclair marked their return to the senior ranks with a comfortable 1-11 to 0-8 victory over neighbours Tang in a disappointing final. It was the club's first major triumph since 1985 when they defeated St. Malachy's by 2-4 to 0-7 in the senior championship decider. Tubberclair's only previous intermediate success was in 1979 when they overcame Maryland by 2-8 to 0-5. The green and golds had endured many disappointments since their demotion 12 years ago. But the minor 'A' championship success of 2000, coupled with the outstanding leadership of Gary Connaughton, Bernard Cassells and Fergal Wilson - themselves barely out of the under 21 ranks - proved the catalyst for last season's breakthrough. With so much young talent among their ranks, Tubberclair will feel they have the potential to challenge for senior honours in the coming years. When the club last gained promotion to the top flight, they won a senior championship within six years. Who's to say the current side won't emulate that feat? Under the management of Danny Sammon - who was also in charge of the 2000 minor side - and his co-selectors TJ Reid and Alan Keegan, Tubberclair recovered from an opening round defeat to Maryland to secure their place in the knock-out stages. They produced arguably the finest performance of the championship against Rosemount in the semi-final before easily accounting for Tang in the showpiece game. Tubberclair's 2-5 to 1-9 defeat to Maryland on April 28 wasn't the start they had hoped for, but they bounced back in the best possible fashion with a 2-11 to 0-4 victory over Castletown-Finea/Coole/Whitehall. The first of two hard-fought wins was achieved at the expense of Ballinagore on June 11. In a tremendous contest, goals from David Ganly and 28-year-old 'veteran' John Reid were enough to give the men from the Glasson area a 2-7 to 1-9 victory. Liam Doogan, Francis Spollen and Enda McGee also made vital contributions to the winning tally. Less than two weeks later, Tubberclair claimed their third win from four outings when they overcame Ballymore on a 1-10 to 2-6 scoreline at Pairc Chiarain. Danny Sammon's charges scored the first two points, but Ballymore took control in the second quarter to lead by 1-6 to 0-5 at the interval. In fact, Tubberclair could have found themselves seven points in arrears but for a brilliant save from Gary Connaughton in the 20th minute. Tubberclair improved on the restart, thanks largely to the efforts of Thomas Doogan and James Martin at midfield. With five minutes remaining, it was level pegging and a draw looked to be on the cards until corner forward Francis Spollen shot the winning point from a free which he had earned himself. On June 29, Tubberclair met Tang in what would prove to be a dress-rehearsal for the final. Tang raced into an early 0-2 to 0-0 lead, but the green and golds hit back with points from Spollen and James Martin to lead by two at the break. Within seconds of restart, Thomas Doogan started and finished a move to stretch Tubberclair's lead. Tang remained in contention until the closing stages when three unanswered points from Liam Doogan (two) and Jamie Farrell put the seal on a 0-10 to 0-4 victory. Tubberclair were due to face St. Loman's in the final group game on July 20, but were awarded a walkover after the Mullingar side failed to field. So, without having to kick a ball in anger, the green and golds were through to the semi-final. A major concern for Tubberclair in the build-up to their penultimate round clash with Rosemount was the fact that they hadn't played a competitive game in nearly two months. But one would have struggled to detect any ring-rustiness as they powered to a magnificent 2-16 to 0-13 victory at Rochfortbridge. After a slow start, Fergal Wilson opened the scoring. James Martin and Wilson followed up with points, but Rosemount eventually settled into their rythmn and with the Keanes - Cathal and John - to the fore, they led by 0-8 to 0-4 at the interval. The gauntlet had been thrown down to the younger Tubberclair side, but three points from man of the match Wilson on the resumption brought them back into contention. Cathal and John Keane replied with points for Rosemount before Wilson hauled Tubberclair onto level terms with another brace of scores. Cathal Keane pointed again, only for Wilson and Francis Spollen to hit back with scores. Rosemount substitute Damien Kelly restored parity before the turning point arrived in the shape of a Francis Spollen goal. Wilson and Sean Reid tagged on points to put six between them. Then, with three minutes remaining, Michael Hopkins wrapped things up when he lobbed the ball over Rosemount goalkeeper Darragh Mullen and into the net. Following that performance, it was no surprise that Tubberclair were installed as favourites to lift the Peter Geraghty Cup. Given the local rivalry that exists between themselves and Tang, however, they were taking nothing for granted. Played in front of a big crowd at Cusack Park, the final never rose above the ordinary with Tubberclair controlling proceedings for the most part. Tang did create a number of decent chances in the second half, but overall, they could have few complaints about the outcome. Tang made the better start to the south Westmeath clash, with Michael Tumelty kicking them into an early lead. In fact, it wasn't until the seventh minute that Fergal Wilson opened Tubberclair's account. Wilson maintained his brilliant form by adding three further points which propelled the green and golds into a 0-5 to 0-1 lead. Michael Hopkins and Tumelty then exchanges points before John Reid set up Liam Doogan for the only goal on the stroke of half-time. Trailing by 0-2 to 1-6, Tang were left with a mountain to climb in the second half. A Tumelty free reduced the deficit, but Michael Hopkins immediately responded with a point for Tubberclair. After Seamus Keenan had landed Tang's fourth point, the maroon and whites had a strong claim for a penalty turned by referee Sean Carroll after Eamon Carey had appeared to be fouled. At this stage, Paul Conway was becoming more influential for Tang, scoring a neat point which was sandwiched between further scores from Wilson and Reid. Conway was to hit the target again on three further occasions, but with Wilson beating defenders with ease, Tubberclair's advantage never came under serious threat. In the final minute, David Ganly completed an impressive afternoon's work with the last point of the game, by which time the Tubberclair celebrations had already began. The Tubberclair team which annexed the intermediate football championship was: Gary Connaughton; David Cassells, Thomas Furey, Michael Healion; Bernard Cassells, James Martin, Enda Dooley; David Ganly (0-1), Thomas Doogan; Fergal Wilson (0-8), Michael Hopkins (0-1), Jamie Farrell; Francis Spollen, John Reid (0-1), Liam Doogan (1-0). Subs used: Kevin Doogan and Kevin Connaughton. Junior 'B' crown also finds home in Glasson Tubberclair added the junior 'B' title to their intermediate championship crown when they overcame Killucan by 1-10 to 1-8 in an entertaining final at Shandonagh last December. The signs didn't look good for the Glasson men when they trailed by 0-5 to 1-6 at the interval, but a much-improved second half performance saw them overtake their opponents and secure another title. Killucan enjoyed the better of the first half exchanges and they took a firm on proceedings when Joe Croash found the net midway through the half. The accurate freetaking of Francis Spollen enabled Tubberclair to stay in touch, but Killucan still had a four-point lead at the half-way stage. On the restart, Jamie Farrell began to dominate at midfield and it wasn't long before Tubberclair stamped their authority on the game. During the second half, Killucan were restricted to just two points from Christopher Leech and Paul Briody, while Tubberclair added 1-5 to their first half tally. The Tubberclair goal was scored by David Ganly from the penalty spot in the third quarter and they never looked like losing thereafter. The Tubberclair team was: Paddy Spollen; Enda McGee, Kevin Doogan, Tom Slevin; Michael Healion, Enda Dooley, Stephen Keegan; David Ganly, Jamie Farrell; David Cassells, John Reid, Danny Keegan; Francis Spollen, Kevin Connaughton, Liam Doogan. Sub used: Peter Evans. Tweet

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